CURRENT AFFAIRS
06 March, 2025
1. THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA VISITED DHOLAVIRA, APPRECIATING THE TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS OF THE HARAPPAN CIVILIZATION –
Harappan (Indus Valley) Civilization-
• It was an urban civilization that flourished along the Indus River from around 3300-1300 BCE. It was discovered by John Marshall in the 1920s.
• Major sites of the Harappan civilization include Harappa, Mohenjo-daro, Banawali, Dholavira, Lothal, and Ropar.
Dholavira:
• It is located in Kutch (arid island of Khadir), Gujarat, is a significant archaeological site inhabited from 3000 BCE to 1800 BCE.
• It was discovered by Jagatpati Joshi in 1968.
• It is the fifth-largest site of the Indus Valley Civilization and lies between two seasonal streams, Mansar and Manhar.
• Archaeological findings include terracotta pottery, seals, ornaments, and evidence of metallurgy. It was a trade hub for copper, jewelry, and timber, with inscriptions in Indus Valley script.
• No human remains have been found at the site.
• Dholavira features a walled city with a fortified castle, middle and lower towns, and a cemetery.
• Its advanced water system includes 16 reservoirs and step wells.
• It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021.
2. A WORLD BANK REPORT TITLED “BECOMING A HIGH-INCOME ECONOMY IN A GENERATION” HIGHLIGHTS THAT INDIA MUST ACHIEVE AN AVERAGE ANNUAL GROWTH RATE OF 7.8% OVER THE NEXT 22 YEARS TO REACH HIGH-INCOME COUNTRY (HIC) STATUS BY 2047 –
• The report stresses that ambitious reforms and their effective implementation will be necessary to meet this goal.
Key Highlights of the Report on Becoming a High-Income Economy-
• India’s Economic Journey: India’s share in the global economy has doubled from 1.6% in 2000 to 3.4% in 2023, making it the 5th largest economy in the world.
• For two decades before the pandemic, India’s economy grew at an average annual rate of 6.7%, second only to China among major economies.
• 2047 High-Income Economy Goal: India aspires to become a HIC by 2047.
• To achieve this, its gross national income (GNI) per capita would have to increase by nearly 8 times from USD 2,540 in 2023 (currently India is in lower-middle-income category).
• In 2023, the World Bank classified countries with GNI per capita above USD 14,005 as high income and those between USD 4,516– USD 14,005 as upper middle income.
3. SHARATH KAMAL TO RETIRE FROM TABLE TENNIS –
• India’s legendary table tennis player Achanta Sharath Kamal has announced his retirement from professional table tennis. His farewell tournament will be the WTT Star Contender event, scheduled to take place at the Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai from March 25 to 30, 2025.
• The 42-year-old, 10-time National Champion and five-time Olympian has had a remarkable career, earning widespread recognition for his achievements at the Commonwealth Games, Asian Games, and Olympics.
4. PM MODI ANNOUNCES ASIATIC LION POPULATION ESTIMATION –
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the seventh meeting of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) at Sasan, Junagadh, Gujarat.
• The meeting, attended by Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav and other NBWL members, focused on critical wildlife conservation efforts, including the upcoming Asiatic lion population estimation and the launch of various conservation initiatives.
5. SONPRAYAG TO KEDARNATH ROPEWAY PROJECT: TRANSFORMING PILGRIMAGE CONNECTIVITY –
• The Government of India has approved the construction of a 12.9 km ropeway from Sonprayag to Kedarnath under the National Ropeways Development Programme – Parvatmala Pariyojana.
• This initiative aims to provide all-weather, last-mile connectivity to the revered Kedarnath Temple, significantly reducing travel time while boosting tourism and employment in the region.
MCQ QUIZ
Q1. Which ministry has announced the Cities Coalition for Circularity (C-3) initiative ?
a) Ministry of Science and Technology
b) Ministry of Evironment
c) Ministry of Finance
d) Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
Q2. When did the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announce the withdrawal of ₹2,000 notes ?
a) January 1, 2023
b) May 19, 2023
c) October 7, 2023
d) December 31, 2023
Q3. What is the name of the initiative launched to standardize and streamline port operations across India ?
a) Smart Port India Mission
b) National Maritime Vision 2047
c) One Nation: One Port Process
d) Sagarmala 2.0
Q4. Consider the following statements with reference to Delimitation:
1. Delimitation is the process of redrawing the boundaries of electoral constituencies in India.
2. Delimitation is done after each Census to adjust the number of seats in Parliament and state Assemblies based on changes in population.
3. The goal of delimitation is to ensure equal representation, so each constituency has roughly the same population size.
How many statements are correct?
a) Only 1
b) Only 2
c) All three
d) None
Explanation-
• Statement 1 is correct. Delimitation is the process of redrawing the boundaries of electoral constituencies in India. Delimitation in India is governed by India constitution.
• Statement 2 is correct. Delimitation is done after each Census to adjust the number of seats in Parliament and state Assemblies based on changes in population. Article 82 and 170 of the Constitution provide that the number of seats in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative assemblies as well as its division into territorial constituencies shall be readjusted after each Census.
• Statement 3 is correct. The primary goal of delimitation is to ensure equal representation in the legislative assembly or parliament by dividing the state or country into constituencies that have roughly the same population size.
Q5. Under Section 8(1) of the Representation of the People Act of 1951, which of the following offences can lead to disqualification of an MP.
1. Promoting enmity between two groups
2. Bribery
3. Undue influence or personation at an election
4. Defamation
How many of the above options is/are correct ?
a) Only one
b) Only two
c) Only three
d) All four
Explanation-
• Option 4 is incorrect.
• The disqualification of an MP convicted for an offence can happen in two instances.
• First, if the offence for which he is convicted is listed in Section 8(1) of the Representation of the People Act of 1951. This includes certain specific offences such as promoting enmity between two groups, bribery and undue influence or personation at an election. Defamation does not fall under this list.
• Second, if the lawmaker is convicted for any other offence but is sentenced for a period of two years or more. Section 8(3) of the RPA mandates that an MP can be disqualified if convicted and sentenced to not less than two years of imprisonment.
Answer Key
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
D | B | C | C | C |